Ellsworth Correctional Facility

Ellsworth Correctional Facility Since then, ECF has expanded several times. The Central Unit currently provides housing for 820 residents of maximum and medium custody levels.

The Ellsworth Correctional Facility (ECF) was approved for construction by the 1986 Legislature and was designed to house 226 minimum security residents on a 68.6-acre site. ECF added the 11-acre East Unit in 2012, which includes 95 minimum custody beds for a total of 915. The mission of ECF is to provide public safety in two ways: 1) Risk Containment which is preventing escapes, applying correc

t custody status, applying good time in a fair and equitable manner, providing proper medical care including mental health, providing proper nutrition, providing for religious needs, providing basic counseling as they navigate the incarceration piece of their sentence. 2) Risk Reduction which is reducing recidivism and its associated costs by providing residents evidence based programming.

Awards Given at the Ellsworth Correctional Facility Post Rock Journeymen Distinguished Service Awards Banquet On June 20...
06/21/2026

Awards Given at the Ellsworth Correctional Facility Post Rock Journeymen Distinguished Service Awards Banquet

On June 20, 2026, the Post Rock Journeymen at Ellsworth Correctional Facility held the 2026 Distinguished Service Awards Banquet at the Spiritual Life Center. This amazing banquet was catered by El a De Oros, with friends and family joining in the festivities. The 11th Hour Praise Band played for everyone’s enjoyment. A recap of this year’s amazing programming, mentoring, leadership training, and developmental initiatives was provided, and it was absolutely remarkable! Residents were presented with personal award recognition by the Journeymen Officers of that area of leadership. The resident speakers for the event were outstanding.

The Distinguished Service Award Recipient for the Community for 2026 was Pastor Exie Barber, who has served as a volunteer and pastor for ECF Residents since 1989, has lead the Brothers in Blue weekends twice each year, has served on the Spiritual Life Center Board for many years, and has served as the Right Track Foundation President for many years. Throughout his leadership he has assisted many men in transforming at ECF, and the Post Rock Journeymen showed their strong appreciation for his dedication and service by honoring him.

The Distinguished Service Awards for this year benefited many local organizations (Ellsworth High School After Prom; Ellsworth Christmas Store; Wheatland Warriors for North Central Kansas Down Syndrome Society to send five NCKDS kids to Disney World and Sea World; Special Olympics sponsorship; the local Assembly of God Church, etc.) as well as benefiting all ECF residents through cosponsorship of the Annual Christmas packages for every resident, cosponsoring the Resident Appreciation BBQ, and funding their own DSA banquet, just to name a few! What an amazing organization to reach so many, both outside and inside the facility!

We are so grateful for the Post Rock Journeymen at Ellsworth Correctional Facility for their contributions to our communities, their steadfast commitment to grow the organization every year, and their continued leadership development of the residents. Congratulations on another year of excellence, and we look forward to the year to come!





Ellsworth Correctional Facility Chess Team Earns First Place!The Ellsworth Correctional Facility Chess Team was back in ...
06/18/2026

Ellsworth Correctional Facility Chess Team Earns First Place!

The Ellsworth Correctional Facility Chess Team was back in full force today! Residents Romane Douglas, Lafayette Cosby, Deshannon Cavitt, and Terrill Andrews placed first in the fourth State of Kansas Online Chess Tournament. They will advance to the Gift of Chess Semifinals in October where they will complete against over 100 teams from more than 50 countries.

Excellent job, gentlemen! We are so proud of you!




Those beautiful CARES dogs! 💕🐾💕🐾💕🐾
06/18/2026

Those beautiful CARES dogs! 💕🐾💕🐾💕🐾


CARES recipients meet the resident dog trainers…
06/18/2026

CARES recipients meet the resident dog trainers…


CARES, Inc. Graduation at Ellsworth Correctional Facility!On Thursday, June 18, 2026, CARES, Inc. (Canine Assistance Reh...
06/18/2026

CARES, Inc. Graduation at Ellsworth Correctional Facility!

On Thursday, June 18, 2026, CARES, Inc. (Canine Assistance Rehabilitation Education Services, Inc.) held a graduation ceremony at Ellsworth Correctional Facility with 54 guests and their dogs, 20 ECF handlers with their dogs, and a multitude of supportive staff. The recipients of the CARES dogs came from across the United States (Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Virginia, Tennessee, Florida, and Kansas, to name a few) and even from Canada to celebrate this event. This group of trained dogs will be serving many important purposes, some of which are: medical alert for seizures or blood sugar; medical alert for POTS; handicap assist; various schools for therapy for students and staff with emotional issues and trauma; therapy for autism; therapy within special education programs; therapy for behavior disorders; and therapy for anxiety; critical medical care for families; crisis intervention within a juvenile intake and assessment center; therapy within the medical environment; and even PTSD assistance for our cherished veterans. The recipients were able to meet the ECF residents who trained their dogs and share experiences with them on how successful these trained service dogs have been, always able to brighten their circumstances, and completely transforming lives of the recipients! The ECF residents were able to share their training experiences with the recipients, see the service dogs one more time, and enjoy the true rewards of their hard work.

CARES, Inc. has been at Ellsworth Correctional Facility since 1999, and we are so very grateful for the opportunity to partner with them in this incredible relationship! Thank you to Sarah Holbert and her staff at CARES, Inc. for all of the help to make this program a huge success!






Please help us congratulate our most recent ECF Basic Graduate! COI Ayukunle Olufemi has successfully completed his Basi...
06/16/2026

Please help us congratulate our most recent ECF Basic Graduate!

COI Ayukunle Olufemi has successfully completed his Basic Training and is now advancing to his on-the-job training. He has been very engaged and assertive, and is ready for the next step!

We are truly proud of you and are looking forward to seeing you on shift. Congratulations, and welcome to our amazing team!



Please help us congratulate Alexander (Alex) Carrasco on his lateral transfer from El Dorado Correctional Facility to Ma...
06/12/2026

Please help us congratulate Alexander (Alex) Carrasco on his lateral transfer from El Dorado Correctional Facility to Major at the Ellsworth Correctional Facility!

Alex embarked on his professional journey at the Ellsworth Correctional Facility in October 2018, starting as a Corrections Officer I. Prior to his start at ECF, Alex earned an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Indian Hills Community College. His dedication and commitment to excellence quickly propelled him through the ranks, allowing him to serve as a Sergeant and Staff Sergeant before achieving the rank of Lieutenant in February 2022. He was promoted to Captain on November 12th, 2023. He was promoted to his current position of Major, in April of 2025.

During his tenure, Alex has been a vital member of the Special Operations Response Team (SORT), where his leadership skills and tactical knowledge have shined. His exceptional performance and leadership abilities led to his selection for the building entry squad on the SORT team in September 2020, showcasing his capability to handle high-pressure situations.

His extensive training background includes working on all three shifts, gaining valuable experience in Main Control, and becoming a certified self-defense instructor. Alex has participated in numerous advanced training programs, including the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) Commander Leadership Training, the 88 Tactical SWAT Instructor Course, FEMA Major Incident Command System Certification, and Kansas Highway Patrol SWAT Special Response Team Certification. His collaborative efforts with various outside agencies have been instrumental during major emergencies, disturbance responses, and shakedowns at multiple facilities.

Born in New Mexico and raised primarily in Iowa, Alex has embraced his life in Kansas, where he resides in Salina with his wife, Hailey, and their four children. His journey reflects a strong commitment to public safety, leadership, and the well-being of his community.

Please join us in congratulating Major Alex Carrasco and welcoming him back to Ellsworth Correctional Facility. We know he will do a great job for us here at ECF!

The 19th Annual Spiritual Life Center BBQ with Jimmy Bratcher and His Band at ECF on June 11, 2026! The Spiritual Life...
06/11/2026

The 19th Annual Spiritual Life Center BBQ with Jimmy Bratcher and His Band at ECF on June 11, 2026!

The Spiritual Life Center Right Track Foundation and the Post Rock Jaycees sponsored the 19th Annual SLC BBQ at Central Unit and concert featuring Jimmy Bratcher and his band on June 11, 2026. A hamburger, all beef hotdog, chips, cookie, pickles, and soda were served to the entire resident population, and that food was provided by the Right Track Foundation and the Post Rock Jaycees. Jimmy Bratcher and his band gave an amazing performance, as always! Even though the weather forced the celebration inside this year, it was a wonderful time for all!

This BBQ is in appreciation for the population at ECF who work and positively contribute to our facility and our community. Residents enjoyed great food and an awesome concert, while staff enjoyed helping serve, the wonderful weather, and good music. It’s always a fantastic day to recognize our amazing residents and incredible staff!





Congratulations, Substance Abuse Program Graduates! Overcoming addiction issues can be a real obstacle for a lot of our ...
06/11/2026

Congratulations, Substance Abuse Program Graduates!

Overcoming addiction issues can be a real obstacle for a lot of our residents. Pictured are the most recent Substance Abuse Programming graduates, and they have worked extremely hard to absorb the curriculum, utilize the tools, and practice these cognitive behavioral interventions to change their behavior, dramatically increasing their opportunity for success now and in the future.

Substance Abuse Programming through Heartland Regional Alcohol and Drug Assessment Center (HRADAC) is a cognitive behavioral approach to substance abuse issues and is 47 sessions long. This class is not categorized as Substance Abuse Treatment, as they are not treating the substance abuse, rather providing cognitive behavioral interventions for residents to use in managing their own substance abuse issues.

When asked what tools they had learned that they were taking with them, these men were ready with their responses! They have custom-fit these tools for themselves and are already using them today. Some of these responses were:

-“Stop and think.”
-“Value my beliefs.”
-“Communicate assertively.”
-“One standard, no compromises.”
-“Stop and think.”
-“Be intentional.”
-“Breathing to become grounded.”
-“Own your thoughts and feelings.”
-“We are trailblazers and we own our thoughts.”
-“The ‘No’ that matters is the one you tell yourself!”
-“Value your value.”
-“Evaluate options.”
-“Support.”
-“Identify your values.”
-“Go out there and make a difference!”

Excellent job gentlemen, we are so very proud of the transformation you are making! We are so excited for the success you are building for yourself!





Please Join Us in Congratulating Dan Ives on His Official Retirement from the KDOC After 34 Years of Service! Dan began ...
06/04/2026

Please Join Us in Congratulating Dan Ives on His Official Retirement from the KDOC After 34 Years of Service!

Dan began his KDOC career at the Norton Correctional Facility in Stockton in February of 1992. In August of 1992, he transferred to ECF as a COI. In November of 1993 he promoted to COII, promoted to CSI in August of 1994, promoted to CSII in September of 1996, promoted to CSIII in May of 2000, and then promoted to Major (CSIV) in July of 2025. Dan was a member of the Special Operations Response Team (SORT) since April of 1996. Dan also worked on the statewide Security Audit Team traveling to other KDOC facilities, giving feedback and advice on tactics, investigations, procedures, and best practices. Dan obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, from Fort Hays State University in December of 1984.

Dan served in many leadership positions at ECF and had a multitude of strengths. He was an accomplished supervisor with extensive experience supporting both staff and residents. Throughout his tenure, he was someone the facility could depend upon, and he never turned down a task or opportunity to develop more knowledge.

During Dan’s time at ECF and as a member of SORT, he assisted with coordination and ex*****on of several facility shakedowns, responded to other facilities when needed, and always maintained his composure, no matter what the day would bring. He never hesitated to share his knowledge and experiences with others to facilitate their professional growth.

Congratulations, Dan, on this next exciting chapter of your life: Retirement! We know you have an adventurous heart and hope you will keep us posted on the many things you discover in your travels. We appreciate you and wish you the very best!

Address

1607 State St
Ellsworth, KS
67439

Telephone

(785) 472-5501

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